‘In America, power belongs to the people’ - Large crowds come out for Joliet No Kings Day protest

Joliet — Will County residents joined thousands of Americans around the country in protest Saturday morning in a series of events dubbed “No Kings Day” rallies opposing immigration policy actions by the Trump administration and a military parade being held in Washington, D.C.

According to Indivisible Illinois, which organized the event, more than 600 people gathered at the corner of North Larkin Avenue and West Jefferson Street in Joliet to protest the Trump administration’s policies, which they described as “an authoritarian takeover.”

Indivisible, a nationwide grassroots political organization focused on progressive causes, organized hundreds of rallies across the country for Saturday, including the one in Joliet.

The protests were happening on the same day, June 14, as the military parade that President Donald Trump wanted in Washington, D.C., to recognize the 250th year of the U.S. armed forces. June 14 is celebrated as Flag Day across the country, and it also is Trump’s birthday.

[ PHOTOS: No Kings Day protest in Joliet ]

Earlier in the week, Indivisible said that more than 300 people had RSVP’d for the event, a number that doubled, partially in response to ongoing protests in Los Angeles and the deployment of National Guard troops and 700 Marines, against the wishes of California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

“We had about 600 RSVPs online this morning, and there are more people than that here now,” said Patrick Watson, a member of Indivisible Illinois’ Executive Committee coordinating the Joliet protest. “It’s really good. Everybody is very energized.”

[ "No Kings" protest in Joliet performance of "This Land is Your Land" ]

While residents waved dozens of American, Mexican and Pride flags, and displayed anti-Trump signs, a group of speakers laid out the policies they are opposed to, including mass deportation efforts and proposed cuts to Medicaid, library and Department of Education funding.

“They are defunding schools, attacking unions, targeting immigrant families, targeting the LGBTQ community, trying to erase the contributions of Black Americans and women. We say, ‘Enough,’” Watson said.

“As Americans, we honor the freedoms our flag represents, like the right to assemble and express ourselves in a nonviolent manner,” said state Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, one of several local elected officials in attendance. “No Kings Day is a reminder that in America, power belongs to the people, not to kings, billionaires or corporations, and we will never be divided or silenced.”

Ventura and Watson were joined by state Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet; Joliet Township High School District 204 Board members Lorraine Guerrero Neumayer and Michelle Stiff; Spanish Community Center Director Sylvia Acosta Chavez; Joliet Public Library special projects coordinator Valerie Devine; and Nursing Association executive board member and Families of Will County and Illinois member Pat Meade.

Former state Sen. Pat McGuire from Joliet served as the emcee of sorts for the program.

Kankakee School District 111 teachers union President Beth Anderson, Joliet Jewish Congregation Rabbi Jenny Martinez and Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery also were present.

“This rally makes me prouder than I’ve ever been of my hometown,” McGuire said after thanking everyone for coming and giving an acknowledgment to the members of the Joliet Police Department present during the event.

Police said the event went smoothly and had been “very peaceful.”

“We haven’t had any problems so far,” Deputy Police Chief Robert Brown said about 11 a.m. “Earlier we saw a couple guys with Trump flags across the street, but there were so many other people here, they got drowned out and left.”

Brown said the police “love to see people exercising their First Amendment rights to free speech, and we’re here to support that.”

Throughout the day, police reported that some motorists driving by made rude hand gestures or shouted back at protesters, but no major incidents occurred.

Some protesters cheered as passing cars blew their horns in support.

While several speakers became emotional during their comments, the attitude of the event was generally enthusiastic and upbeat until protest organizers gathered together to somberly acknowledge the shooting of two Minnesota state lawmakers and their spouses.

McGuire briefed the crowd on the details of the shooting deaths of Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as the severe injuries to Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. All four were attacked by a gunman in what authorities said was a politically motivated shooting Saturday morning.

After the announcement, Rabbi Martinez, who had spoken earlier in the event, led the protesters in a short, solemn prayer for the victims, their families and their community.

Actions beyond protesting

Many, including Manley, stressed how important they felt these events were to the country.

“I’m not really a rally person, but after what I saw happening this week, I had to speak out,” said Manley, referencing the removal of California Sen. Alex Padilla from a Department of Homeland Security news conference in handcuffs. “Taking people you voted for and arresting them for speaking up is the beginning of the end. Protesting peacefully is our God-given right. We are the real patriots, and the flag belongs to us, too. We need to stick together and stand up for each other.”

Speaking to The Herald-News after her speech, Manley said that she is concerned about the problems Illinois residents will face if the Republican-backed spending bill is passed.

“This is not a drill,” she said. “There is not enough money in Illinois to fill the hole those cuts would create. People will die.”

Many of the speakers urged protesters to reach out to elected officials and other voters to talk about the issues and how the Republican budget plan might affect them.

Watson said Indivisible organizes phone banks every Sunday to call Illinois lawmakers, and to call residents of Republican districts to explain what their congressional representatives’ votes mean for their district.

The group said it also is planning to make canvassing trips to red districts to talk to people door to door.

“Everyone knows someone who has been affected by these policies,” Watson said. “They need to tell those stories, and if they haven’t been affected and they don’t like what they see happening, they need to explain what it is they don’t like and why they’re opposed to it.”